UCLA Bruins Battle Narrow 17-14 Loss Under Interim Coach Tim Skipper Against Northwestern

The UCLA Bruins, under interim head coach Tim Skipper, started their Big Ten season with a tough 17-14 loss to Northwestern, highlighting struggles in the first half despite a strong second-half defensive effort. Skipper expressed pride in his team's fight but emphasized the need for better starts and resilience in a highly competitive conference. Meanwhile, USC's football offense showed strong performances with over 490 yards in a narrow 34-32 loss to Illinois, indicating that internal issues may be their biggest obstacle. At Cornell, head coach Dan Swanstrom is navigating a challenging quarterback situation with two main contenders showing mixed results, reflecting the team's ongoing adjustments and development. These developments across college football teams illustrate the competitive nature and varying challenges faced by programs early in the 2025 season.